MARGAO: Bharat Mukti Morcha (BMM) has accused the State government of surrendering Agricultural land to mining interests via a recent amendment to the State Land Revenue Code in the Assembly.
“It is saddening to note that the Goa government, even though it is preparing an Agriculture Policy, has sabotaged Goa’s farming interests through surrender to mining interests. Goa Legislative Assembly has not only committed blunder of the century but has also reduced themselves to merely the executive committee of the mining companies. Long battle awaits us,” said Dr Sebastiao Rodrigues, BMM State Convenor. Rodrigues claimed that the 2023 Amendment to Section 30 of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968, carried out by the Goa Legislative Assembly allows mining on agricultural land without any permission from the District Collectors.
He went on to explain the consequences and that it had come down to what the government had chosen to pursue.
“So, now it is legal to take over paddy fields for mining purposes. There is no need for mining companies to even pay any compensation for crop loss due to siltation of fields,” said Rodrigues. “The Goa government has chosen mining over agriculture. Mining is all set to inflict artificial planned disaster in the near future and Goa’s legislature is complicit in it. People have to make their choice. Agriculture Policy cannot supersede Land Revenue Code,” said Rodrigues.
“Ģoa Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik and the members of the drafting committee have to make their stand clear or no Policy will work, however good it may be, if the amendment to Section 30 allowing mining on agricultural land is not withdrawn,” he added.
He explained how the original Land Revenue Code prior to the amendments were protecting the agricultural land wherein such lands were not allowed to be used for non-agricultural purposes.
So, now it is legal to take over paddy fields for mining purposes. There is no need for mining companies to even pay any compensation for crop loss due to siltation of fields
Dr Sebastiao Rodrigues, State Convenor, Bharat Mukti Morcha
